Top tips...
After helping many people through successful adoptions we have a lot of helpful tips to share.
Weighing your hamster
This should be done about once a week and they should be measured in grams. It can be used to help ensure that you are feeding the right amount and can be the first signs of illness. If you see a sudden increase or decrease in weight contact an exotic vet.
Clean hands
When taming your hamster it is really important that you wash your hands before handling them, it is likely that you have been giving them treats or touching some form of food, this of course smells very yummy to your hammy. So to avoid getting a little nibble we highly advise having clean hands before trying to stroke or hold them.
Bigger is always better
This is true for both a wheel and an enclosure, its hard to go too big with wheels, we suggest getting a size up from the minimum as some hamsters are definitely bigger than others and the minimum isn't enough. With an enclosure it is impossible to go too big, a hamster will never dislike a bigger enclosure unless it isn't crowded enough so make sure when setting up an enclosure it is nice and cluttered so that they feel safe.
Barless is always better
We have found that some hamsters really don't do well in a barred enclosure which is why we suggest getting a barless enclosure if you are getting it before you know which hamster you will be adopting. If you are ever in doubt of which enclosure to get, a tank above 100x50x50cm+ is always a good option however a 120x50x50cm tank will ensure that you are able to adopt nearly any hamster that we have in foster care.
Be open minded
A lot of people come to us with their minds set on a certain gender or species of hamster however they may not always be right for you. There is also a stereotype put on female Syrian hamsters and people say they are all difficult and hard to please. Some of the most cuddly and loving hamsters that we have ever seen have been female Syrians, equally we have seen some outgoing Roborovski hamsters. A lot of people also want a young hamster like the baby in the picture above when in fact they are often not what they may seem. We can't be sure of their temperament and there is never any guarantee of how long they will live.
Ask questions
We really don't mind in fact we love it when you ask us questions, if you don't know what sprays are just ask. If you don't know what bedding is safe just ask, we are open to any questions and queries that you may have. Just pop us an email or contact us on social media.